A man grabbed his two small sons from their mother's northwest Harris County apartment Wednesday then fled after firing a weapon, authorities said.

An Amber Alert was issued for the boys, Jayce and Jeremiah Teel.

Sheriff's deputies said a man identified as Jeremy Teel, 26, surprised the mother of his sons, about 1:30 p.m. when he unexpectedly showed up at her apartment in the 5800 block of West Gulf Bank.

Teel and Jasmine Porter, the boys' mother, got into a fight at the apartment.

Then, "he took the kids against the mother's will. When he took the kids, he discharged a firearm at the mother," said Sgt. Robert Spurgeon, a homicide detective with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

He drove away with a woman thought to be his girlfriend, identified by authorities as Jasmine Scott. He returned to the area a couple of hours later but without the children, deputies said.

Detectives said they may be with Teel's current girlfriend. She was still being sought later Wednesday.

Teel was taken into custody and is facing aggravated assault charges. Authorities said he was not cooperating with detectives.

"He just said he wanted his lawyer," Spurgeon said.

Porter said the only thing she wanted was the safe return of her children. Jayce, 1, has a doctor's appointment and Jeremiah will have his fifth birthday this week.

Sheriff's deputies believe custodial issues may be at the center of the abduction.

"This is something that could have been handled with a conversation. The kids don't have anything to do with this," Porter said.

Porter said she had not seen the boys' father for several days until he suddenly showed up and demanded his sons.

She said they fought at the apartment complex until he suddenly pulled out a weapon, either a rifle or shotgun and opened fire.

"Then he went and picked up the shells and drove off," Porter said.

Anyone with information about the case should call the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 713-221-6000.